Xbox Elite 3 Controller: Leak shows previously secret prototype with display

Once again, photos of an unannounced Microsoft gamepad are making the rounds online. The current images of the suspected Xbox Elite Series 3 controller show the changed design and reveal a previously unknown hardware innovation.

Fresh look at the Xbox Elite 3

While the current Xbox update gives gamers fresh functions for their console and the Game Pass will receive new games like Best of Reincarnation in August, images of the Xbox Elite 3 controller have now appeared again after an initial leak in May. The photos show a suspected prototype of the upcoming Microsoft gamepad and reveal another detail. The input device apparently has an integrated screen. The small LED display is located directly below the charging port on the top.

In the recordings, the panel shows a short animation. There is a button next to the screen that allows you to switch between a local console mode and a direct cloud connection. The latter could reduce latency when streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming, as the gamepad probably communicates directly with the servers instead of taking the detour via the local hardware.

The current recordings come from a post on Reddit in which a user presented the device. He said he purchased the hardware through an online marketplace. The post disappeared shortly afterwards, which could indicate an intervention by Microsoft. Before deletion, the buyer explained that the model pictured was not functional and could not be paired either by cable or wirelessly.

Further technical adjustments

The pictures from May already showed two small scroll wheels on the bottom and a revised control pad. Since the control pads on the Elite series can be exchanged, the final design could vary here. A look into the battery compartment also reveals a removable battery and Torx T6 screws. It is not clear from the photos whether Hall Effect joysticks are installed.

Accessories and competition

A screen in a gamepad is not entirely new to the market. Third-party manufacturers such as Turtle Beach already integrate small displays for direct profile management in their expensive models. This allows players to adjust button assignments or joystick sensitivity without additional software. The new model would be an understandable step for Microsoft, as the Xbox Elite Series 2 was released in 2019.

Since then, the market for professional accessories has evolved significantly. In the meantime, competitor Sony followed suit with the DualSense Edge. An official announcement of the new Xbox controller could take place at Gamescom, which takes place in Cologne in late August.